London - Event

The Royal Ballet revives Ninette de Valois and Nicholas Sergeyev's classic production of Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, first seen at Sadler's Wells in 1946. It was magnificently restaged in the Royal Ballet's 75th birthday year, 2006.

Based on Perrault's fairy-tale, the evil, jealous fairy Carabosse spitefully pricks Princess Aurora's finger and sends her to sleep for 100 years. She can only be awakened when a handsome prince breaks through the towering forest of defences and kisses her. The Sleeping Beauty has everything a romantic ballet could want.

Petipa's 1890 original version has additional choreography by both Frederick Ashton and Christopher Wheeldon. It has been lovingly restored to the stage by the Royal Ballet's director Monica Mason and Christopher Newton, playing to the strength of the company's principals. Vallerij Ovsyanikov conducts.